a takeover of public institutions to pave the way for profit
By denying tenure to Dr. Ignacio Chapela, Assistant Professor of Ecosystem Sciences, the University of California at Berkeley displays negligence toward its mission as a public institution serving the interests of the people of the State of California.
Dr. Chapela's groundbreaking research discovered the unintentional spread of genetically modified (GM) corn in Mexico, the birthplace of this global food staple, and a country with a ban on GM agriculture. No fewer than five committees of Dr. Chapela's peers at UC Berkeley, numerous outside reviewers, and the Dean of his department recommended him for tenure.
As a public institution, part of the stated mission of the UC system is to "translate scientific discoveries into practical knowledge and technological innovations that benefit California and the nation." The controversy over Dr. Chapela's tenure boils down to whether the UC system should be researching GM crops for industry, or independently assessing their impact on our health and ecosystems.
Food First 08.Dec.04
